Once A WR, Tulane's Lorenzo Doss Makes Impact On Defense

MIKE ANTHONY, manthony@courant.comThe Hartford Courant

NEWPORT, R.I. — Lorenzo Doss spent his childhood in New Orleans as a wide receiver and was recruited to Tulane for his pure athletic ability. Before the 2012 season, news that coach Curtis Johnson planned to use Doss on defense did not go over well.

Doss, then an incoming freshman, was a little disappointed but didn't consider it that big of a deal. Two other people did.

"My parents, they were really upset," Doss said Tuesday at American Athletic Conference media day. "C.J. will tell you — my mom and my daddy, they came in and they were mad. They were like, 'All those years of work as a receiver!'"

Doss, who laughs as he looks back on this, just wanted a chance to earn playing time — on either side of the ball. In two seasons as a cornerback, he has become the headlining player of a Tulane program that considers itself in the midst of a turnaround.

The Green Wave finished 2-10 in 2012 but improved to 7-6 last season, qualifying for a bowl game for the first time since 2002. They have moved from Conference USA to the AAC and will now play home games at Yulman Stadium, a $75 million on-campus facility scheduled to be ready for the home opener Sept. 6 against Georgia Tech. UConn visits Yulman for a game Oct. 11.

Tulane previously played home games at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, home of the NFL's Saints. That's unique, to play where Super Bowls are held, but the Dome doesn't have the same buzz when only 20,000 people are in the stands.

"That's a pro venue," said Johnson, a New Orleans native who spent five years as receivers coach with the Saints before taking the Tulane job. "The best thing about last year is that so much time, energy and effort has been put into trying to make this program turn a corner. A lot of people of great character were able to enjoy a reward with a bowl game."

Tulane started 6-2 and lost four of its past five, including the New Orleans Bowl to Louisiana-Lafayette.

"Last year was huge on all fronts," junior safety Sam Scofield said. "We had that great season, we have the new stadium coming, we knew we were headed to a new conference. We're really trying just to reposition the whole program. And this coming year is going to be even more important."

Tulane and UConn finished tied for ninth in a preseason media poll, with only Tulsa, another AAC newcomer, predicted to finish lower in the 11-team conference. But a new neighborhood means little familiarity, and Tulane players are confident in being able to surprise people in 2014.

Doss, 5-feet-11 and 187 pounds, has 12 career interceptions, including seven last season as a sophomore. He and four other players were tied in that category, behind only Virginia safety Anthony Harris, who had eight.

The national football community has taken notice. Doss was a first-team Conference USA player and was named the conference's player of the year by SB Nation and College Sports Madness. Sports Illustrated and the Walter Camp Foundation named him a second-team All-American.

Heading into this season, Doss has been named to watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Chuck Bednarik Award, which both honor the nation's top defensive player. Walter Camp has named him one of its 50 players to watch in 2014.

"I love him," Johnson said. "The young man is at a high level. He intercepts the ball. I wouldn't throw at him. You want to test him, he may pick you off and he may run it back for a touchdown. He deserves the [attention]. Look at the games. He's won games for us by picking off a ball, running it back, making a big tackle."

Johnson's brother, Lee Doss, is a receiver who went undrafted out of Southern University. He signed a free agent contract with the Redskins and will try to make the team as a rookie out of training camp.

Doss has dreams but won't allow himself to focus on a professional future. He's focused on continued success for a Green Wave defense that allowed an average of 21.4 points in 2013, 18th in the nation. Doss works under Tulane defensive coordinator Lionel Washington, another New Orleans native who spent 15 years as a cornerback in the NFL with the Cardinals, Broncos and Raiders.

"He's a great guy," Monroe said. "He wanted to play receiver. I think he was mad about it. His family was mad about it. His dad came, and he was heated. But Lorenzo's so humble. Nobody will outwork him and he's just so competitive. He's one of those guys who is a workaholic."